Earlier this month, many of Torey Krug’s friends graduated from Michigan State.

The rookie defenseman would’ve been a college senior this year, but last spring he left East Lansing, Mich., to sign with the Bruins. He said it was strange to hear about his friend’s graduation, but he couldn’t be happier with his decision.

While his classmates may have just left school to pursue their hopes and dreams, Krug already has been living his.

“Yeah, it’s a bit weird,” Krug said. “They’re going off trying to find, I guess you can call it, a real job. And I’m here, doing the thing I love to do. It’s not a job when you love to do it and I’m having the time of my life.”

During this Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with the New York Rangers, Krug has gone from emergency call-up to the Bruins’ hottest offensive weapon from the blue line. His power-play goal in the second period of Thursday’s Game 4 was his third goal of the best-of-seven series, which the Bruins lead 3-1.

Even when Dennis Seidenberg returns, it seems likely Krug will stay in the Bruins’ lineup. Heading into today’s Game 5, that’s the furthest thing from his mind.

“You never know what’s going to happen when these guys get back,” Krug said. “Obviously (Seidenberg, Wade Redden and Andrew Ference are) veteran defensemen and have a lot of experience. A couple of them won Stanley Cups. You never know what the coaching staff is going to decide. You just do your part to take advantage of the opportunity you were given.”

Despite being thrown into the team’s Stanley Cup run with the start of this second-round series, Krug has remained composed. It’s been a trend throughout his early career. When he went undrafted, Krug’s confidence never wavered. He always believed if he was meant to play in the NHL, he would find a way. He believed that scouts would find him.